Oklahoma City, OK /Minnesota– 2017

We planned to leave for MN on Jan 14th from Oklahoma City where we had reserved a site for a month at Twin Fountains RV Resort, the same place we left the 5th wheel last year. Travelling from AL to OKC we made a stop for two nights at a nice Corp Park in Enid, MS, Persimmons Hills, a three night stop in Little Rock, AR at Maumelle COE Park where our site overlooked the Arkansas River (beautiful) and three nights at our favorite state park in OK, Eufaula State Park. We have stayed in this park three times every time on the same site. At this time of the year the park is almost completely empty and the site overlooks the lake on two sides. Love it!

Baby Adalyn arrived early, Jan 10th, and we had all of reservations in place for the RV Park, the rental car and the hotel back in MN to coincide with our leaving OKC on the 14th and a big ice storm was predicted for a few days before we were to leave so we just stuck to our plans. It was hard knowing we had that new grandbaby back in MN but we knew she wasn’t going anywhere and we needed to be safe so we could get back to MN. Thankfully the ice storm was minimal so on the morning of Jan 14th after Joe winterized the Lifestyle we headed for MN in our rental car. We arrived the afternoon of the 15th unpacked at the hotel and went to meet our newest granddaughter. Adalyn Virginia was born to our daughter Amanda and husband Ron on Jan 10th weighing in at 8lbs 12oz and 19 inches long with a head of black hair. She was beautiful and healthy! Joe and I spent three weeks in MN enjoying getting to meet the newest family member, spending time with Cate and Alex and Zach, Lauren and baby Vivian flew in for four days to also meet Adalyn and have a family Christmas. It was wonderful being with all of the kids and grandkids. We count these times as our greatest blessings. It is always hard to say good-bye to the kids but especially the grandkids. Cate and Alex are at such a fun stage. We enjoy taking them movies and their favorite spot for pizza. One afternoon we spent time at an indoor play place with them and Cassie and then went out for dinner. As we entered the restaurant Alex made the statement “I love my papa”. Grandma gets a tiny bit jealous but that little boy has a connection with his papa. Joe put on a pair of ice skates after probably 15 years to go skating with 5yr old Cate. I’m not sure who had a better time. Such fun times! Then we have baby Vivian who smiles all the time. Not once did we see her get crabby. She melts your heart with her smile. They had a 5 hour delay at the Cincinnati airport, then the flight and when we picked them up she was all smiles. We know it will be the longest period before we get to see her beautiful smile so we just ask for a lot of pictures and to be able to FaceTime once in a while so we can tell her how much we love her. So hard to say good-bye. Then we have the newest, Adalyn, to say good-bye to. We know that she will have changed the most in the time before we see her again. I tried to get as much cuddle time with her before we left so she doesn’t forget grandma loves her (papa too). Hard to say our good-byes to all of them but time does go fast and before we know it we will see them all. Love love family time!